What was the relative concentration of these species in the mixture?

Question

When 1.06 mmol of 1-Pentanol and 1.53 mmol of 1-Hexanol were separated by Gas Chromatography, they gave relative peak areas of 922 and 1570 units, respectively. When an unknown mixture of these two alcohols was likewise separated, the relative peak areas were 843:816 (Pentanol:Hexanol).

Answer 1

First: calculate the conversion factor (relative peak area units / mmol) for each compound.

1. [pentanol] 922 units / 1.06 mmol = 869.81 units / mmol
2. [hexanol] 1570 units / 1.53 mmol = 1026.14 units / mmol

Second: use the respective conversion factor "units / mmol" value to calculate the number of mmol of each compound.

1. [pentanol] 843 units / (869.81 units / mmol) = 0.969 mmol of pentanol
2. [hexanol] 816 units / (1026.14 units / mmol) = 0.795 mmol of hexanol